I got a beta! Woohoo! She's my best friend and confidant, Chloe! *Applause* Anyhow, here's chapter 7 (Review on the big twist to the story) Hint hint, nudge nudge. Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize! However, I do own my OC's. (Claire, James, Leo, Lucky, and Little Wave)
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(3 weeks of being knocked around as a servant to the pirates, Tompkins sneaking food to her, and keeping silent about his secret. Trust is forming between the two, and possibly even more.)
"You, you're James' lost twin! I heard a rumor going around London when the scandal of your kidnapping occurred. Everyone was baffled that your abductor didn't take you too. But, how did you end up here? In Never Land of all places!" astonished and puzzled, I spoke rapidly, causing Leo's eyes to dart around nervously.
His tongue swiped his lips, wetting them slightly. After a small pause, he sighed and spoke, "I guess I might as well tell you the whole story. Listen to the whole thing and please don't interrupt." My head bobbed slightly, nodding my agreement. "Okay. There was once a band of pirates who were the most feared in the seven seas, other than Black Stache's crew of course. They went by the name of 'Satan's Blood'. Boy did they live up to it! Everywhere they went, terror and horror ensued and naturally, when Black Stache and his mates went missing, all pirates battled for the spot of number one. As was expected by much of the world, Satan's Blood won, and the reason you don't know this is because you don't live in the same world as the pub owners or wharf rats. Anyway, Satan's Blood ruled over the seas for some time, plundering to their hearts content and in the end, becoming filthy rich. Of course you know about competition between people can happen, and that is just the case with Satan's Blood and another group, 'He is Supreme and his crew'. No one knows who this captain was, but he defeated Satan's Blood with a form of hoodoo voodoo. It is legend that the masked captain's eyes were red and his skin a dark grey. However that is beside the point. He and his crew defeated Satan's Blood, murdered their captain before their eyes, and banished them to this island, using the dark magic. Satan's Blood, ashamed of being defeated, teamed up with Black Stache and his crew. Black Stache, or as you more commonly know him, Captain Hook, opened his arms in gratitude, allowing them to swarm the island with all their hatred. Today, there is a dark and light side. They constantly battle for control of Never Land. A lot has changed over the six years Jane was gone," noticing my shocked face, he explained. "The other pirates have told me the stories."
Leo then trailed off, reminiscing old memories. Still confused about his part I asked, "Pray tell, where do you fit into of this?"
"Ah. Satan's Blood just lost their cabin boy right before the epic battle and they desired a new one. They took port at the nearest city, London. James and I were strolling home to my father's mansion there, as you know, I was about twelve. Unfortunately, we were walking by the water because I had wanted to admire the fog creeping up the shoreline, and to get a scare out of my brother. Before we could reach home however, Satan's Blood seized me, clubbed my brother, and dragged me back to their ship, covering my mouth all the way so I couldn't scream. I worked as cabin boy until the huge fight, about three weeks after I was kidnapped. After that, I became a first class pirate, treated with respect and fear. I pulled all of the pirates together and helped them find Captain Hook, so in other words, I was their savior! After that, we teamed up with him and his crew," he proudly explains his saddening, yet inspirational story to me. I surprisingly find blinding tears streaking down my face as I try to contemplate everything that this poor teenage boy had went through. "Claire! What's wrong?" his callused fingertips brush my cream colored cheek, tracing the salty lines. My hand instinctively seizes his, pressing it gently to my skin. My amber eyes meet his smooth brown ones and all I could feel was the desire to kiss him. These past three weeks with him in secret have caused a friendship between us to form, and I was just beginning to have feelings for him… Slowly tilting my head sideways, I leaned closer to him. Leo's breath became noticeably ragged as we drew nearer to each other.
Then, our lips touched and every shadow of doubt left my mind. Even though I had met this boy for three weeks, and despite the fact that he's a pirate, I felt as if I had known him for a lifetime. My breathing also became ragged as his hand reached behind my head, knotting my curls. With each passing second, the kiss deepened ever so slightly. As he nipped my lip with his teeth, I responded with a quiet moan. Taking the opportunity, he slipped his tongue through my lips, exploring every crevice of my mouth. We remained like this for a few moments more until Leo began to push me down onto the cot we had sat on just five minutes before, talking about history. I willingly obeyed but made a silent promise to myself. Not here, Claire. Not now, you don't want your first time to be in a room full of snoring pirates! Let alone without being married. Mother taught you better. Just after I decided this, his lips trailed down my neck, leaving a burning trail down my jaw line. I could feel my eyes roll back into my skull as he kissed my neck tenderly. Despite my obvious deterrence against a sexual relationship, I could feel my body wanting it.
"Leo," I whispered his name softly, causing his head to rise so he could look at me. I shook my head slightly, informing him of my decision without me having to say any words. As much as it pained me to do this, I stayed true to my beliefs. He nodded, acknowledging my choice. We then picked up where we left off, never taking a break unless it was to catch our breath. It was about time something had happened.
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(After five days of Leo)
My eyes fluttered open, taking in all of my surroundings in a millisecond. Realizing I was in the pirate's cave with Leo's muscly arm wrapped around my waist, I began to relax even more. I'm a pirate now! A whole school week has passed and none of my feelings have changed. If anything, they've grown even stronger! I thought happily. Careful not to wake him, I twisted so my face lay mere inches from his. Leo's long black eyelashes framed his closed and seemingly delicate eyes. His sweet breath washed over my face as I memorized the features of his lips. They were a soft peach/pink color, semi-thin, and parted slightly. Overcome with sudden desire, I pressed my lips to his. At that he stirred, his left eye opening ever so small, leaving just enough room for him to peer through his lashes. When he noticed that it was me he gave a small smile, causing me to giggle. Leo then playfully pushed me over, scattering my face with his lips. Pausing at my mouth, he raised himself up onto his palms. Trying to impress me, he began to do push-ups above me, making me laugh like only he and possibly Peter could. Each and every time he lowered just far enough, I would close the distance between us to press my heart shaped lips to his thinner ones. By the time we stopped, I counted forty-five push-ups in a row. Chuckling, Leo switched over to my left side and we began to make out. We had only three of these sessions and I enjoyed every second of them. After the first, I officially became his girlfriend.
"Hey! LEO! What's-" a boy who looked to be our age sprinted over, trying desperately to obtain Leo's attention. He however stopped short when he noticed that Leo was with me. "B-b….. Leo?" he spluttered, obviously very confused.
"Um, uh…" Leo was at a loss for words as he straightened into a sitting position, mimicking my movements and highly reddened cheeks.
Feeling sorry for Leo to have to explain it to his friend, I jumped in quickly. "Hi, my name is Claire Darling, Leo's girlfriend. I'm pleased to meet you, Mister…?"
Catching onto the fact that I wanted to know his name, he bobbed his head and stated, "My name is Neil, but you can call me 'Lucky'. That's my nickname." I took in his slightly pudgy body, blue eyes, white blond hair, and sunburned skin.
"Very nice to meet you Lucky," I said cordially as Leo's face morphed into an even deeper shade of crimson. A small giggle escaped my mouth as I took notice of this. I slyly slipped my tiny hand into his larger, tanner one, interlacing our fingers as I pulled him from the cot. "Now about the matter you wanted to discuss with Leo?" I nudged Leo, urging him to continue the conversation and to stop being so awkward as it was making me uncomfortable. I began to drag my eyes around the cavern and shift my weight from one foot to another, patiently waiting for him to get over his paralysis.
"Ah," Leo cleared his throat as he realized how rude he was being, shocking himself into reality. "Yes, what did you want to ask me?"
"Well…" Lucky shot me a pointed glance, making sure that Leo took notice.
Leo then slapped his hand to his head, inferring the subject of the question, "The war! Oh shit, I forgot to tell you about it. Quick history lesson Claire, you ready for it?" I nodded in response, anxious to hear about this "war" of theirs. Clearing his throat he continued, "When Satan's Blood was taken in by Captain Hook, the crew tripled in size. I was named captain for my bravery in leading the crew, putting aside my age. Both I and Hook agreed that we would be stronger together if anything happened so that we would need protection, and as they say, two hands are better than one! Anyhow, one day, a few months after we arrived, some savages captured five of our crew who were out to get much needed medical supplies for the crew, who had gotten some jungle sickness. I think it was malaria or something like that. I, being co-captain with Hook, came up with a decision to declare war on the natives, which of course was passed through mutual agreement. Hook would get his revenge on Peter and I wouldn't have to live in fear of oppression or imprisonment… This was decided about a year ago and we are still fighting to this day for control of the island. As I explained before, the light and the dark constantly battle. All in all, I would say there are fifty-four pirates against one-hundred-twenty natives. We do however have an advantage, our guns are much more sophisticated and practical than the native spears, shields, and arrows," satisfied with his explanation, Leo finished. To tell the truth, I wasn't all that surprised. From my battle, it was quite obvious that the pirates and Mollusks were the ones fighting. I just didn't realize the true depth of why the fight was started. I was interrupted from my thoughts by Leo asking a question, this time directed at Lucky, "What was it that you wanted to ask me about Lucky?"
"What's the word for 'parley' in Mollusk? 'Cause they got a dozen of our men last night when they went out to get some food for the injured," Lucky said, shifting on his feet back and forth, nervous to see how his adolescent captain would react to this news.
"Gah!" Leo emitted a noise and began pacing, obviously trying to come up with a logical solution to the problem at hand. After a minute or two of pacing, Leo's face fell as he seemed to finally come up with a solution. "Claire?" he began, seemingly extremely upset.
"Yes my love?" I answered feeling confident that this small answer would make his spirits lift but I was seriously mistaken because, if possible, his face drooped even more.
"I need to ask you something that I normally would never do, especially of someone who I love as much as I do you. Please don't think really horribly of me," Leo's eyes watered as he warned me, and before I knew it his chocolate eyes started leaking crystal tears.
"What is it? I would never think that you were a horrible person!" I worriedly exclaimed as I tried to meet his eyes, which were downcast toward the rock hard floor.
He hurriedly blurted out the words as if a cast iron spike was about to pierce his heart if he didn't say it fast enough. "Would you be my prisoner of war so I can get my crew back? Please, I don't see any other option! You're my last hope, and we can still meet at the lagoon every night! Maybe we can fake kidnap you so that way we can see each other! I know it's only been a month but I don't want to lose you no matter the cost, but I have a duty…. Just, please Claire! Please-" he broke off sobbing, and at the sight of that scene I wept also.
Grasping his tear-stained freckled cheeks in my miniscule hands, I stared him in the eye and replied, "I will." Crushing my lips to his, we said our silent goodbye. Our month was over.
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(In the dead of night the next day)
"We have this prisoner of war to compensate for our men," Leo stated, grabbing my hair gently and pulling hair along with my face forward to show the Mollusks. He however acted like he didn't care how I was treated, just for show of course. I heard small gasps from the tribe and an outraged hiss from Peter. At his hiss Leo tensed, gripping me closer than was needed, and it also seemed to me that it was more protectively than possessively. I slyly distanced myself from him, still trying to keep our relationship undercover.
Then, without consideration and warning Peter blurted out, "We accept!"
"Okay. Give us our men and then we shall hand you the girl," Leo proposed.
With that the exchange was made. Just before I was handed over, Leo pulled me upwards still gently by my hair and whispered in my ear, making me shiver, "Next week by the lagoon. Don't forget my sweet." His intoxicating breath washed over me, enveloping me in my love for him. However, our moment was cut short because I was yanked away by Peter towards the "safety" of the Mollusks.
Our eyes caught each other just before I vanished into the jungle along with Peter, who was dragging me by my upper arm. I blew a hidden kiss, drawing a small smile from him just before he was lost from my vision. Then I trudged towards the confining walls of the Mollusk tribe, without my love. Peter began to fuss over me, trying to win my favor; but tonight was a night of mourning, mourning for my vanished lover.
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I absolutely love this chapter! This wasn't read by my Beta (whoops, sorry Chloe) and I know I was really late and just had to publish. Sorry, studying for state tests and couldn't get to it in time. Anyways, I am super excited for their midnight lagoon visit! PM me for ideas on what should happen because I haven't decided yet what happens…. I NEED INPUT!